On a day that saw five event wins and four school records fall for Lipscomb, Ryan Chastain led the way again, winning both the mile and the 800m on Saturday at the Tennessee State University Invite in Nashville.

He started things off for Lipscomb in the first event of the day by winning the mile in a personal best of 4:19.11.

Later in the meet Ryan established a new personal best and a new indoor school record in the 800m, moving from 5th place to first in the final 30m to win in 1:55.49. Just a week ago Ryan established a new school record for the indoor 5000m in 14:53.10.

Ryan’s time in the 800m leads the Atlantic Sun Conference. He is also ranked 6th in the mile and 3rd in the 5000m.

Ryan was joined at the top of the winner’s podium for Lipscomb by Alex Jerkins, Jeff Musick and Caitlin Anderson.

Jerkins launched the shot a new personal best of 45 feet 11.75 inches to win that event.

Jeff and Caitlin won the men’s and women’s 5000m. Jeff posted a new personal best 5000m time of 15:28.92, while Caitlin won in 18:52.27.

Other indoor school records were set in the women’s 800m by Amanda Twigg in 2:16.79, the men’s 55m dash by Xavier Conley in a personal best 6.517, and by Bobby Bassett in the men’s 400 in 50.07. Amanda and Sara Stephens (2:17.53) both ran all-time personal bests, and took over the top two positions in the ASUN conference rankings at 800m.

On the day 13 personal bests were set, and 24 top three collegiate finisher trophies were earned.

“It was the best day of track & field yet at Lipscomb University since I arrived two and a half years ago,” said head coach Bill Taylor. “Ryan has really started this season off incredibly and is leading the way, not just with his excellent finishes, but by also showing both teams what we can accomplish.”

Taylor stressed that the Bisons and Lady Bisons had some excellent performances, and not just the wins.

“Both of Ryan’s races were exciting, as he held off a kicker in the mile, and outkicked the field in the 800m,” Taylor said. “That 800m win was so exciting too. He just suddenly popped through. Isaiah Greer won his heat of the 800m in a new personal best of 1:58.93 with another exciting race.

“Alex’s winning toss in the shot was fun. You could tell it was a good one when it left his hand. Amanda and Sara ran so well in the 800m. Those are really great 800m times for this early in the year. Jeff Musick also ran a very exciting race and held off a late kicker who was trying to run him down. He’s a tough kid and a smart racer. And Xavier Conley ran terrific in the prelims of the 55m dash, reaching the final. That hasn’t happened in a sprint race since I’ve been here, so that was a big step forward for our sprints program.”

Taylor is expecting his teams to continue to build on their successes as the season progresses.

“Everything points to a really big season for this program as we continue to rapidly improve,” Taylor said. “ It is another huge step in our goal to build one of the best cross country and track & field programs in the nation.”